Integrated Display & Environmental Awareness System (IDEAS)

The goal of this project is the development of a head mounted display for use in operations here on Earth and in Space. The technology would provide various means of visual communication and augmented reality information to its user. With the goal of dramatically improving situational awareness thus improving the safety and efficiency of the worker.

All ground operations for NASA missions can benefit from this technology as it increases the safety of operators while also increasing their efficiency.

These benefits include:

• Enhancement of activity efficiency through precise (localized, timed, supervised) procedural guidance, recording and further possibility of system and human learning / optimization
• Enhancement of human safety thanks to higher process control, process clarity, activity monitoring, environmental monitoring and warnings directly “on eye”
• Enhancement of affordances of human activity thanks to availability of virtual tools and components supporting reality or virtual reality immersion
• Enhancement and provision of instant or real time information processing thanks to wearable or portable computers and sensors that can analyze, sense, perceive, interpret and model information according to user needs or environmental settings allowing for more precise or correct decision making

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.